The ruins of Delphi, Greece were set into the mountain side, with only three tall columns rising from the flattened complex. Olive groves dotted the surrounding area, along with a combination of very ancient and modern buildings in the new touristy settlement of Delphi not far away.
Ladybug, and Chat Noir followed Ember up the twisting marble path, Ember referred to as the 'Sacred Way,' gradually hiking uphill to the Temple of Apollo. The uneven ground, matched with the residual heat from the day made them trudge, rather than stride towards the top.
Ladybug was quieter than normal, and Chat Noir stuck close to her. To cut the silence Ember told them how the temple ruins of Apollo they were headed towards had been one of the greatest attractions in all of Greece at the height of its glory, and after a long hiatus falling into obscurity, it was excavated by archeologists. Now it once more attracted visitors from all over.
Once they got to the top it was almost dusk, and shadows stretched out further after the long day. The tourists had been cleared out hours ago, but as they rounded a corner a little further up from the temple and entered a stone theater that had been reconstructed. The cavea spread out into a traditional bowl fashion into tiers of seats looking down at the stage. The inscriptions had long been eroded over time, and the limestone blocks were flaking and cracked. It was stepping into this arena that they came across an odd assortment of beings. To their surprise many were familiar.
Lady Justice sat at the head of the group who was deep in discussion with Merlin. Lady Dragon gave Ladybug a friendly wave from her seat next to them.
Then there was the Swan Knight from Germany who stood and shook Chat Noir's hand firmly. Then he scooped up Ladybug's hand in order to attempt to lay a kiss on the back of her hand. Chat Noir's quick grip on his shoulder made the flirty Knight reconsider, and shake her hand instead.
A couple monks from Bhutan and the Tibet temples sat quietly together sipping some tea they had brought with them, while the old man from the final trial in the Philippines brought out some ancient scrolls that they were reading through together. Mrs. Cadogan the librarian from Wales was pointing at some text on the stroll and then crossed her arms in front of her. Lady Lion from Africa, Miss Rose from London, and Lady Butterfly from Brazil were all in an animated conversation with each other, and seemed to be arguing.
Ladybug was suddenly ambushed by the team from New York, Uncanny Valley and Eagle. The two engaged them right away with stories of the new generation of American heroes they now led.
Chat Noir was especially surprised to see Yannathan and Bunji (the man and his son they had met in Australia, who had changed their flat tire) arrive right behind them as well, and pass him with a smile and a pat on his back.
There were other human defenders of the miraculous too, that Chat Noir and Ladybug did not recognize. All of them seemed to know exactly who they were though.
Chat Noir gently elbowed Ladybug, to look over to the other half of the stadium. This part of the stadium was an odd menagerie of 7 wild kwami. One for each of the 7 continents. They recognized the white lion they met while in Africa, the elephant from Asia, the jaguar from South America, the moose from North America, and the Kingfisher from Europe. They also noticed a koala they hadn't met while in Australia and a regal looking penguin from Antarctica, who (they were told by Ember) also had the honor of representing the wild kwami of the sea. Whereas the humans were talkative, the wild kwami silently stood regarding the humans cautiously, and kept a close eye on Ladybug and Chat Noir.
The theater suddenly fell quiet when Lady Justice stood and stepped forward to center stage. Ladybug and Chat Noir, quickly sat down next to each other off to one side. Standing before the assembly Lady Justice took a pause, and everyone seemed to lean forward in anticipation.
"It has been an age since the defenders of the miraculous have come together in this place. Besides the honored wild kwami represented here, and Merlin, and I…for the rest of you this is a first. It is only in times of dire need that we have called you from so many corners of the Earth to set aside differences and stand together." Lady Justice looked around the whole assembly to let this fact sink in. Then she continued in a loud, clear voice, "You have been called together because once more the kwami of chaos, the mosquito kwami, has begun to put into motion aggressions which will ultimately lead all living things into peril. I call first upon the wild kwami," Lady Justice gestured to the white lion, who stood and walked methodically up to the stage.
"It is true that the kwami of Chaos has tried to overthrow the balance of the world before, and threatened all of existence," the great lion's thunderous voice resonated within the acoustics of the open theater. "What is worse, he has corrupted not only humans to his cause, but also some of our fellow wild kwami. We now come to the chosen of Tikki and Plagg to have them lead us to restrain him once more."
Every head, and all eyes looked over at Ladybug and Chat Noir. The pair felt themselves inadvertently shrink under the scrutinizing gaze of those in attendance. They had nothing prepared! They had only just found out about this council, and were not sure what to do.
"They are still young weilders. Their miraculous' have not even been fully matured yet," the penguin kwami said a little too loudly to the Kingfisher. "Shouldn't two others among the older weilders be chosen in such a dire situation!"
"They may not have the experience in years that others might have had in the past, but I would trust these two against Chaos any day," the moose loyally interrupted them.
"Those among us wild kwami who have encountered these two weilders of creation and destruction have no question in their capability. They are nearly through their training, and I have absolute confidence that they will become some of the most powerful weilders any of us have ever seen," the Lion took charge once more. "What we are here for is to collaborate on how each of us can support them once Chaos launches an attack."
"Or how to stage an ambush to catch him before he has a chance to strike," the jaguar added.
Ember flew to Lady Justice's side and whispered in her ear. Lady Justice nodded, and bowed sincerely to the lion kwami. He returned to his seat, and Lady Justice stepped forward. "Ladybug succeeded in passing through the mosquito kwami's secret Moai chamber."
There was a flurry of whispers among the wild kwami, and questioning looks among the humans.
"That was a dangerous risk for anyone, let alone a young human child. Not only are the forbidden waters of Rapa Nui treacherous, the paths of the chief chamber haven't been scouted by a soul since the mosquito kwami's deception and escape. You should have consulted us first," the koala kwami spoke up.
"It was dangerous, and something I hope to never have to face again. Yet, it was a risk Chat Noir and I accepted. Lady Justice felt that the secrets the mosquito kwami had hidden could help us in our fight," Ladybug stood to address the assembly. Chat Noir stood beside her and took her hand.
"Ladybug, and I are dedicated to stand against Chaos. We need as much help as possible to prevent him from destroying more lives," Chat Noir nodded.
Those who hadn't seen the super hero duo in person before nodded and looked at Ladybug and Chat Noir with a new sense of awe.
"So what did you discover?" Merlin asked. "What did the mosquito hide in his lair?"
Ladybug's face blanched, and she tightened her grip on Chat Noir's paw. He looked over at her in concern, immediately sensing her tense up beside him.
All in the stone bowl looked on, waiting on what mysteries Ladybug might reveal. Ladybug tried not to look out at the curious faces before her. Instead she looked just over their heads, and cleared her throat. "I saw stone images of past chiefs, who I believe he impersonated in order to gain power over the people of the island. Then in a lower chamber I discovered carvings all over the walls." Saying this Ladybug froze, and stopped talking. In her mind she was back in the cave facing the haunting carving of the one she loved.
The audience looked at each other, and back at the silent Ladybug.
"You saw something jarring….something about his plan?" Merlin pressed.
Ladybug nodded, and yet stayed silent.
"She said that the mosquito kwami's plan appeared to be using the powers of creation and destruction to bring about the apocalypse of the world," Ember interjected on Ladybug's behalf.
"That must have been difficult," Lady Justice commiserated. "Are there any details that could give us some clues on how we could prevent his plans?"
From the ocean the carving showed the octopus kwami destroying everything from the sea. From the air, there was a dragon," Ladybug replied. Right away everyone's eyes turned to Lady Dragon.
"It was true that he was after the prodigious just days ago," Lady Dragon said. "The one who has been abusing the use of the butterfly miraculous tried to use a human who was akumatized to take it from me, but thanks to Ladybug and Ryku we prevented them from possessing it."
"There is more than one dragon in the world," one of the monks from Bhutan contributed.
"We have much to discuss already on how to move forward," Lady Justice declared, and the time is short. Ladybug and Chat Noir will go to the oracle before our time is up, and the sun sets on the day of phrophecy. We will see if her prophecies might add to what we already know." Lady Justice then motioned to Ember, and asked him to escort the two weilders to the temple of Apollo.
Merlin rose as well, and Lady Justice nodded to him. Raising his hands he transported the space back to the time of the ancient Greeks. To their amazement stones, marble, wood, gold, mosaics, fabrics, and tapestries swirled around them, and reconstructed the empty space where the temple had been. Ladybug and Chat Noir bowed in reverence to the assembly, and left them to debate and plan, as they alone followed Ember down the renewed path.
They came to the first chamber where they paused. "I will go ask her," Ladybug said quickly before Chat Noir said a word.
"Are you okay?" Chat Noir asked.
"It has just been a lot to take in. I'd rather just move forward so I can start making a plan to stop Chaos," Ladybug tried to grin at him.
Chat Noir wasn't fooled by this, and put his arms around her and hugged her close.
When he let her go, she squeezed his hand, and walked forward towards a curtain dividing the first room from the sacred sanctuary of the oracle herself.
As she pulled the curtain back she didn't see much at first, as the whole room was filled with a heavy cloud of steam. The smell of burnt laurel leaves and barley hovered inexplicitly in the air. The clouds of steam dissipated enough that Ladybug could see the figure of a lean woman sitting before her. She walked forward, causing the steam to roll out of the way. She noticed an inscription on the opposite wall that had been pieced together by Merlin's magic. Thanks to her miraculous sight granted by Tikki, Marinette could read it. Gnothi Seauton (γνῶθι σεαυτόν) It simply said: Know Yourself
Ladybug gave a respectful bow toward the oracle sitting up on a rock, and then cleared her throat.
"I am Ladybug, the weilder of the miraculous of creation. I have come on behalf of myself, and the council of miraculous defenders to ask how we can stop the mosquito kwami's plan from bringing an end to the world."
The oracle did not respond at first, as if lost in a trance. Her face was hidden from Ladybug's sight beneath a dark red scarf that shielded her face.
"Young Ladybug, your question you have voiced, is not the one that weighs the most heavily on your heart," the oracle finally responded.
"If I can find a way to defeat the mosquito kwami, my own fears won't come to pass," Ladybug said, still staying guarded.
The oracle raised her head, and Ladybug was startled at first by her white eyes with a very thin ring of bright blue. The oracle stared at her for a moment, and then lowered her head back back before speaking. "Wrapping your fears up in a bundle of stress will not prevent your fears from becoming reality," the oracle replied from the pinnacle of the rock. "One you've always counted a villain will be your salvation."
Ladybug blinked, and took a step back. "Is there anything more?" Ladybug asked. "Don't you have a strategy? A plan? Maybe something we could use as a secret weapon?"
The oracle raised her hand, indicating to the temple. "I am neither a brave warrior, nor a strategist, and I am not able to conjure magical tools. Those are not my gifts…those are yours. I have given you the answer to your question."
"We're talking about the apocalypse here, and that is all you are willing to say?!" Ladybug said in frustration.
The eyes of the oracle gazed at Ladybug thoughtfully, and almost curiously. "You have witnessed the abyss looming before," she commented quietly. "Yet it is not even the end of the world that strikes fear into your heart. You fear for the destroyer. You think it will happen the same way again?"
"I won't let it happen like that again. Not ever!" Ladybug clenched her fists, and she closed her eyes.
"Heraclitus once said that no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river, and he is not the same man," the oracle leaned her head to one side. "I have been waiting for the dark cat destroyer since my predecessor whispered the secrets of this temple in my ear. After we meet the river he steps into will become a torrent, and he will be swept forward into the future awaiting him."
Ladybug's eyes widened. She had heard enough, and bowed curtly to the oracle, before plunging herself out of the room.
"What do you mean you don't want me to talk to her?!" Chat Noir looked startled when Ladybug burst out of the inner sanctum, and tried to convince Chat Noir to leave immediately. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Just don't. It doesn't matter anyway, because I'm not going to let that future happen. It's all riddles and word play anyway. As if all that can be taken seriously!"
"This is about what you saw in the cave at Rapa Nui isn't it?" Chat Noir asked. "Ever since you went down there you haven't been yourself, and you don't want to talk about it. What did you see down there?"
"I already said…" Ladybug avoided the question.
"No, you barely said anything since you came back. We risked everything to find out what Chaos was hiding, and even to the defending council of Kwami and weilders you purposefully avoided going into specifics. What are you hiding? What did you see? Who is it that you're trying so hard to protect?"
"It's you, okay!" Ladybug broke. "Chaos' whole plan is to use you!"
Chat Noir's eyes widened, but then he came in next to Ladybug.
"That is not really a shock is it? He has been seeking us out the whole time, and it is not the first time someone tried to steal my ring's power," Chat Noir tried to pacify her fears.
"No…it's not the first time," Ladybug's shoulders dropped, and tears pooled in her eyes.
Chat Noir raised his paw to wipe the tears away before they fell, but Ladybug stopped his hand.
"Remember when we faced the wild snow leopard kwami in Bhutan and he tried to take the miraculous from you by force, predicting that you would destroy the earth?" Ladybug asked him.
"You said then that there was a timeline where I actually did destroy everything," Chat Noir said quietly, holding his breath.
"But you were not yourself, you had been akumatized somehow into Chat Blanc," Ladybug's voice turned desperate. "You were so lost! You said it was because of our love! The despair in your eyes…" The tears now fell freely from her eyes. "I swore to myself I would never that anyone do that to you again!"
"Ladybug, I wish that you had told me right away so that I could have carried this burden with you. That may be the mosquito kwami's plan, but when have you and I ever ever given up a fight before it has even begun. Now that we know what he is after we can trap him, and make our own future!"
Ladybug let her head drop onto Chat Noir's shoulder silently. She hoped that he was right.
"Now Mi'Lady, don't worry. Your Kitty puuurfers his black costume, so I don't plan on making a costume change to Chat Blanc any time soon. I will face the oracle, and see if she has any guidance on how to prevent the future you fear."
"Chat…" Ladybug grabbed onto the edge of his costume. "Don't…"
"Mi'lady if someone wanting to control my life made me back off, I wouldn't be here now!"
With a smile over his shoulder Chat Noir flipped the curtain to one side, and passed into the sanctuary of the oracle.
The oracle was seated on a stone from the mountain which met the floor on three carved points. Her eyes were barely open, and gazed forward unblinkingly. It looked as if she had barely any pupils at all, but most of her eye was white with a thin ring of vivid blue. She wore a pure white dress, wrapped in folds around her, with a scarlet scarf over her long waves of pure white hair. It was hard to tell her age. She had an ethereal beauty about her, and her body was posed gracefully on her perch…yet her face was so solemn, Chat Noir got the sense that she had long carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.
"Lady Oracle, I've come to ask…" Chat Noir began with a low, sincere bow.
As soon as he spoke the oracle began to shake uncontrollably, and her eyes widened. She wiped off the scarf from her head and twisted it in her thin hands.
"You have come!" the oracle gripped the edge of the rock she sat on with one hand to steady herself, her knuckles bone white.
"I suppose' as an oracle you don't get many surprises," Chat Noir tried to open with a lighthearted smile.
She did not react to his attempt to put her at ease, instead she returned to twisting her scarf around in her hands irritably. "My predecessors passed this prediction down…one to another through generations preparing for your coming. I knew you would come in my lifetime and the prophecy would reach its climax…Yet when is one truly ready to face such a fate, even when you see it coming?!"
"You do not have to be afraid. I'm one of the good guys! I know that the mosquito kwami has some scheme to turn me into some monster, but I'm not about to become someone else's pawn!" Chat Noir came closer, spreading his hands in front of himself in an attempt to look less threatening.
The oracle threw down the red scarf to the ground and stepped down onto it, grinding it to the floor with her heel, and standing to her full height. Her whole persona changed from one of foreboding to one of authority. In a booming voice she declared, "Destroyer, I fear not only for myself but for all of creation. We stand on a precipice in this moment, so do not take lightly the threat at hand. When the one you love is taken from you, you will trade your darkness for light. All life will be held at ransom. In that moment the woman closest to you will sacrifice herself to save you from yourself."
Chat Noir's mouth dropped, his face went pale, and he hit the ground hard on his knees. His hands splayed out beside him as if he was frozen in shock. "No! No…that can't be. It was me. It was me she said he would come for…not her. There had got to be some way to stop this. I'll do anything!" Chat Noir started to plead. "Trade my fate for her's. Let me be the sacrifice!"
The oracle's face softened, and she silently walked to Chat Noir, kneeling down beside him. "Your fate is your own," she said sympathetically.
"Don't our choices make any difference?! What about free will?! Surely there is some scenarios, some version of the story where I can save her!" Chat Noir looked up at her in desperation.
The oracle looked off again, as if searching for something far off in the distance, and she sighed. "When the one you love is taken from you, you will trade your darkness for light. All life will be held at ransom. In that moment the woman closest to you will sacrifice herself to save you from yourself."
Chat Noir pressed his hands over his ears, and shook his head. "I don't want to hear it again! You already told me! I'm asking if there is a chance to stop it!" he said to her.
"Even if you take different paths to avoid it, in the end you will still come to the same destination," the oracle said flatly.
"Isn't there any hope?!" Chat Noir breathed out.
The oracle looked at him close, seeming surprised. "There is always hope," she told him. She took his hand that wore the miraculous, and patted his hand. When the moment I have predicted comes to pass look to the Dead Sea when all hope is lost. There you will find the restorer who was forgotten."
"The dolphin miraculous!" Chat Noir breathed out. Then his voice turned excited, and he jumped to his feet. If that is the key I will go there now, before anything happens!"
The oracle stood and paced back to her seat on the rock shaking her head sadly. "Have you listened with closed ears cat weilder. If you were to go there this very second, your search would be in vain. What will be will be. You have to accept that."
"I won't! I won't accept that!" Chat Noir growled defiantly. "How can you expect me to just allow the one I love to slip through my fingers. I reject your future!"
The oracle nodded unperturbed by his outburst. "People come to the oracle already with their mind made up about what they want to hear. Would you rather me tell you that everything ends in 'happily ever after?'"
Chat Noir crossed his arms, and his tail twitched irritatedly.
"Take away from this moment what you wish, but the oracle does not lie," she said watching him closely.
Chat Noir bowed stiffly, and stalked toward the exit. Just before he reached the curtain he heard her voice call him back.
"Cat weilder," she called.
Chat Noir paused, without looking back.
"I told you before there is always hope," she said, " It is you. You are that hope for us all."
Chat Noir stood there frozen for a moment, and then passed through the curtain out of the haze of the oracle's domain.
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Myth: Two eagles sent from Zeus flew around the whole earth and met here on this spot on the mountain, signifying this as earth's center. An evil (snake/dragon/monster) was defeated and ever since this is where we meet when all that we hold dear must be defended.
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Heraclitus once said "The oracle neither conceals, nor reveals, but indicates."
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Thank you so much to everyone who has read soooo many chapters to see where I would lead you in the world of Miraculous! I have been enjoying the new episodes, and I can't wait to see what the real creators do with the show. I hope you continue to follow or favorite my story. A special shout out to Sapyrrha who is such a loyal reviewer, and always makes me want to write more, and keep improving! You're awesome:) There is more to come as the characters now deal with their fate rising up to meet them!